Rentals getting a bit crazy

paulsharvey · Sep 13, 2023

I was just doing some quick searching, looking to see if a compact drill/seeder was available for rent; and ended up on Sunbelt Rentals lawn/garden equipment rental page. Who is renting a wheel barrow for $16/day; or renting a gas can for $3/day? They even had a push mower for like $31 per day... It's not really the rental fees I'm laughing at, but really, who rents a gas can?

2manyrocks · Sep 13, 2023

I was thinking maybe an apartment dweller wouldn't own a gas can , but why would they rent any of this?

newbury · Sep 13, 2023

Your at the rental agency and your renting equipment for a job and the job pays cost plus 20% for the rental of equipment.

LittleBittyBigJohn · Sep 13, 2023

I've rented little piddly stuff like that before. I bet the thought is that the person who rents the mower will probably need a gas can and instead of giving one with the rental why not make a few extra buck off them.

If you only need a saw once and don't have someone to borrow it from, rent it. Makes sense to me.

Torvy · Sep 13, 2023

Could be someone with low cash flow that got hired for a job that needs things they don't own. Those things cost more than you think to buy, too.

Rent for a job, get paid, eventually build up enough to buy your own.

oldnslo · Sep 13, 2023

Around here some of the rental shops are also lawn and garden stores so I could see renting a fertilizer spreader if buying fertilizer or possibly a wheel barrow for a load of mulch. No need to store or maintain either one. Chain saws always surprised me since who takes liability when unskilled operator gets hurt. With chain saw who keeps two stroke gas on-hand so there is gas can rental or now maybe buy premix.

different strokes for different folks..

4570Man · Sep 13, 2023

If you’re renting a gas powered tool it’s not unreasonable to want a gas can to go with it. A basic wheel barrel like the picture cost about the same as the metal gas can. Why does the wheel barrel cost over 5x as much to rent?

Mtsoxfan · Sep 13, 2023

Just had a wood stove installed in March. Borrowed a friends wood splitter. He insisted... Used it for a couple of days to split 4 cords or so.
In need of one again, but I hate borrowing. Borrow one twice you need to buy. Problem is, don't think I can justify $1500 or so for a new one. Used are like gold according to asking price. I can rent for $75 a day. Sure, I have to commit to a day, but I can deal with that. Take a few years to break even....
I changed the oil on the borrowed splitter, and bought a hydraulic filter for it. Almost like renting I suppose.

4570Man · Sep 13, 2023

Mtsoxfan said:
Just had a wood stove installed in March. Borrowed a friends wood splitter. He insisted... Used it for a couple of days to split 4 cords or so.
In need of one again, but I hate borrowing. Borrow one twice you need to buy. Problem is, don't think I can justify $1500 or so for a new one. Used are like gold according to asking price. I can rent for $75 a day. Sure, I have to commit to a day, but I can deal with that. Take a few years to break even....
I changed the oil on the borrowed splitter, and bought a hydraulic filter for it. Almost like renting I suppose.

My uncle rented a processor for $425 for the weekend and his cousin paid half and used it the second day. I thought he got a good value getting enough wood for 2 years cut and split for $212.50.